Did priest flee to Ireland after nun murder? Netflix documentary

The murder of a young nun is being investigated in a new documentary and the finger of blame is pointed squarely at a priest who later fled to Ireland.

Sister Cathy Cesnik is the subject of the Netflix documentary ‘The Keepers’. She went missing in Baltimore in 1969, when she was aged just 26.

The programme investigates the potential role of priest Father Joseph Maskell in Cathy’s death. He was a chaplain at the school where Cathy taught from 1967 to 1975.

In November 1969, Cathy mysteriously disappeared and no-one knew what had happened to her until two months later when her body was found at a dump.

Many of the pupils at the school where Cathy taught have spoken about suffering abuse at the hands of Father Maskell, and insisting he must have had something to do with the murder.

One former student, Jean Wehner, said she was abused by Father Maskell and has since brought a $40m law suit against the school.

In the documentary, Jean said Father Maskell took her to the dump where Cathy’s body was later found and warned her: “This is what happens when people say bad things.”

A total of 30 women have come forward claiming they were abused at the school. As well as Father Maskell, director or religious studies Father Neil Magnus was also allegedly responsible for the attacks.

Last year, the archdiocese of Baltimore paid settlements, ranging from $25,000 to $50,000, to 13 former students of Keough High School.